Solar install less then a month ago, battery between 0% and 4%

matt_drummer

badmemory said:

My panels are on both east & west, with most of south in shade.  Today has been the worst day ever with only 4 kw being generated, so all used by the house & obviously none to battery.  Thankfully no trees or I would be looking for a tree surgeon.  The ones that could have been a problem were blown down in a gale a few years ago.  So tall 4 neighbours couldn't get out of their front doors!

You will see worse!

Alexin1970

That is why consumers rely on so called professionals, but unfortunately with some companies you only found out after. I had 4 surveys , they all recommended the south facing roof. The issue with the garage would have been to run the cables underground and no way I could have fitted 14 panels .

I am going to monitor for a month or so and see what happens.

Soon all the trees will drop all the leaves so there will be more sunlight for sure.

You said  your 10 year old 4kWp system generated 13kWh yesterday, how many panels do you have and are 400kW ?

badmemory

I will agree to poor research on my part.  Just a case of that seems like a good idea lets go for it.  Even if I never get the paperwork I still think that.  Most of it will long outlive me anyway, so someone elses problem.

matt_drummer

Alexin1970 said:

That is why consumers rely on so called professionals, but unfortunately with some companies you only found out after. I had 4 surveys , they all recommended the south facing roof. The issue with the garage would have been to run the cables underground and no way I could have fitted 14 panels .

I am going to monitor for a month or so and see what happens.

Soon all the trees will drop all the leaves so there will be more sunlight for sure.

You said  your 10 year old 4kWp system generated 13kWh yesterday, how many panels do you have and are 400kW ?

The sun will be lower too!

I wouldn't expect an improvement over the winter!

It doesn't really matter how many panels I have or the capacity of each panel, the total is 4kWp

But is is 16 250W panels on Enphase micro inverters.

Alexin1970

badmemory said:

My panels are on both east & west, with most of south in shade.  Today has been the worst day ever with only 4 kw being generated, so all used by the house & obviously none to battery.  Thankfully no trees or I would be looking for a tree surgeon.  The ones that could have been a problem were blown down in a gale a few years ago.  So tall 4 neighbours couldn't get out of their front doors!

so it looks like I was given the wrong advice, but i could not have used the garage that is facing est and west as the cables would need to be underground about 4-5 meters, not possible

matt_drummer

Alexin1970 said:

badmemory said:

My panels are on both east & west, with most of south in shade.  Today has been the worst day ever with only 4 kw being generated, so all used by the house & obviously none to battery.  Thankfully no trees or I would be looking for a tree surgeon.  The ones that could have been a problem were blown down in a gale a few years ago.  So tall 4 neighbours couldn't get out of their front doors!

so it looks like I was given the wrong advice, but i could not have used the garage that is facing est and west as the cables would need to be underground about 4-5 meters, not possible

Why not?

Cables in the ground is not an issue.

Alexin1970

badmemory said:

I will agree to poor research on my part.  Just a case of that seems like a good idea lets go for it.  Even if I never get the paperwork I still think that.  Most of it will long outlive me anyway, so someone elses problem.

Don't be too hard on yourself. The responsibility really lies with these companies if they're not providing clear advice with the pros and cons. It's unrealistic to expect every consumer to be an expert in every trade—if that were the case, everyone would be a master of multiple trades by now.

badmemory

I'm very lucky really.  I was left some money by my mother & I can use that or not.  As payback is expected in about 10 years all I have to do is live to 88 & I will be laughing.  Being me I would really like to get there so that I can say told you so although for once not to my younger sister who was actually quite complementary.

I just wish there was some sort of handbook that would say something along the lines of why don't you try this or that.  This is much more of a challenge than getting one of the first home computers almost 50 years ago.  But when you stop learning............

greenbee

badmemory said:

Alexin1970 said:

badmemory said:

Reed_Richards said:

One option, particularly for winter, is to find a tariff that gives you cheap electricity overnight and use that charge your battery.  The cheapest overnight tariffs seem to be reserved for those who have an EV but you may be able to find something else suitable.

How do they know you have an EV & not charging a solar system.

cannot do anything till i get the documents and certificate. I have been waiting just over a month now.

I'm on 8 weeksd now when they said up to 6 weeks.  Someone I know got them in 2 days.

I think that might have been me… my installer was very efficient with the paperwork, and also left all the manuals and a laminated set of instructions next to the equipment about how to turn it off. 

I also should have done more research, as I probably should have insisted on optimisers (panels on the south facing garage roof get shading from the house roof and a tree now the sun is getting lower), and done a few other things differently. However, I’d got to the point of just wanting it done after being messed around by other companies. I am currently eyeing up the east and west-facing bits of the main roof. East doesn’t ever get a huge amount, but west does. In summer even the north face of the garage roof gets afternoon and evening sun.

Reed_Richards

Just for comparison, my generation from Monday (16th Sept) to today (22nd September) was
18.3, 18.7, 20.0, 16.4, 2.1, 1.6, 1.8 in kWh

My panels face south and should be capable of 4.8 kWp